We all know that typing can be frustrating at times - dealing with typos, long words, and the inevitable autocorrect fails. We’ve put together this handy guide to help you get Microsoft SwiftKey set up and working seamlessly.

1 - Customizing Microsoft SwiftKey

One of our top tips to get Microsoft SwiftKey working for you is to really get to know your way around the Toolbar and Settings - i.e. the command centre.

Toolbar

Toolbar is designed to be the home for all of the content and features you use most often. Toolbar is easily accessible from your SwiftKey Keyboard. Just tap the icon to the left of the prediction bar to open/expand Toolbar.

SwiftKey Settings

Many of the settings you'll use on a day-to-day basis can be found in Toolbar. But for complete control you'll want to open the Microsoft SwiftKey Settings proper.

From Toolbar:

Tap the three dots ... then the 'Settings' icon.

Or:

Open the Microsoft SwiftKey app directly from your device.

Within these settings, you’ll be able to really fine-tune Microsoft SwiftKey and also set up things such as your language packs/layouts, your sound/vibration options, and your text correction preferences.

2 - Languages

Microsoft SwiftKey supports in excess of 500 languages, so, even if you speak more than one, there’s a good chance we support yours! Also, you can type in up to five languages at once, so this means less frustrations switching and more time spent typing to the ones you love.

3 - Personalizing and backing up your words

Turbo charge your SwiftKey experience right from the beginning with a Microsoft SwiftKey Account.

Microsoft SwiftKey Account

Your Microsoft SwiftKey Account is a free opt-in service that enhances Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard by leveraging the power of the cloud. As part of this, you can:

Instantly tailor your predictions to you, by letting Microsoft SwiftKey learn from the way you type on a range of social networks (including Facebook and Twitter).

Safely store your most used words and sync them across all your devices (never lose your learned words again).

All you need to perform this magic is to:

Create a Microsoft SwiftKey Account by opening the app from your device.

Ensure ‘Backup & Sync’ is enabled.

Privacy and Data Security

It’s important for you to know that we take privacy and data security extremely seriously. The Microsoft SwiftKey Account is an opt-in, secure, encrypted service and gives you full control over your data. Our robust Privacy Policy explains and protects your rights and privacy.

For further general reading about the Microsoft SwiftKey Account, Personalization and Backup & Sync, please continue here.

4 - Customizing your keyboard

Microsoft SwiftKey offers many options when it comes to customizing your typing experience.

Text Correction

Microsoft SwiftKey not only corrects your typos, but it also predicts your *next* word (i.e. reads your mind!). Your spacebar plays a big role here, you can set it so it does one of the following:

Always inserts the middle prediction

Always completes the current word you’re typing

Always inserts a space (uncheck 'Autocorrect')

Tip: in each case, you’ll still always be able to enter predictions directly from the prediction bar.

These settings can be found in the ‘Typing’ settings page when opening the app from your device.

Input Methods

If you would like to type by seamlessly gliding your finger across the keyboard, then Flow is something you’ll want to check out. If you want to give it a spin, you can do so from the Typing > Gesture input setting page (accessed by opening the app from your device).

From the 'Rich input' settings you can also choose whether or not you’d like to enable the voice input key to make voice dictation possible.

Keyboard Features

You'll also want to check out the ‘Layout & keys’ settings page - accessible by opening the app from your device and tapping Layout & keys. From here you can choose to add options to your keyboard such as:

Arrow keys

Number row

Emoji prediction

Additional accented characters

In addition you can choose the position of your number pad (top, left or right), and select whether you would like easier access to the enter key or the emoji panel.

For all of you who have a love for precision, you’ll be pleased to know that we also provide you with the option to select your long-keypress duration (i.e. the amount of time you need to press a key to access the secondary key options) - down to the millisecond.

Sound and Vibration

Whether you love or hate the idea of hearing a sound every time you tap a key, you can adjust your keypress sound and vibration settings under ‘Sound & vibration’ in the Microsoft SwiftKey Settings. This includes choosing the volume and duration of the sound/vibration, as well as disabling or enabling.

1 - Typing with your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard

How does it work?

Microsoft SwiftKey is designed to improve the ease and accuracy of your typing, no matter how (or what) you type!

We use advanced error correction to make grammar and spelling errors a thing of the past.

We predict your NEXT word so you won't need to press more than two letters!

We learn as you type and remember how you write. This means that over time our prediction engine creates a dynamic contextual understanding of your writing style to boost the accuracy and speed of the predictions.

Keyboard Navigation

We don’t want you hunting for the percentage key, or wondering where the hashtag went. So here’s a little roundup of where things are located on the keyboard for the QWERTY layout using English US (depending on whether you’ve added a number row, arrow keys etc. your keyboard may look different).

First keyboard pane:

Second keyboard pane (accessed by tapping '123' key):

Third keyboard pane (accessed by tapping '{&=' key):

Emoji Panel (accessed by tapping/long pressing the enter/emoji key):

Using Flow

Flow essentially allows you to type by gliding your finger across the keyboard. As you glide across the letters, you’ll see predictions appearing on the prediction bar - as soon as you see the word you’re after, just lift your finger and the word will be inserted!

Flow also allows you to glide through space, meaning that you can flow a word, move down to the spacebar, and flow the next word - all without lifting a finger.

Tip: You can switch seamlessly between flowing and tapping - there’s no need to change modes.

Gestures

If you’re not a fan of Flow and have disabled it (see how to do so here), then you will have the option to use the following gestures with your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard instead:

Slide up on the keys to capitalize (like tapping the shift key).

Slide from right to left on the keys to delete word by word.

Slide down on the keys to minimize the keyboard.

Additionally, if more than one language is in use, and both are using a different layout or alphabet, you can slide left or right on the spacebar to change layout (e.g. from English to Greek). Note: This is still usable with Flow enabled.

Tip: Gestures are activated by the speed of the gesture, rather than distance. If you are having problems with your gestures, please try sliding your finger a bit faster across your keyboard.

Removing/Adding words

The next time this word shows up as a prediction, simply long press the prediction and you’ll see a pop up notification asking whether you’d like to remove the prediction. Just press ‘OK’ and the word will be removed from your language model.

This word won’t be predicted again unless you retype the word.

Multiple Languages

We know you’re a clever bunch, and many of you speak two, three or even more languages. Your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard enables you to effortlessly type in up to five languages at once.

If your selected languages use the same alphabet and you have selected the same layout for all of them (i.e. QWERTY), then all you need to do is... type! It doesn't matter which language you start typing in, Microsoft SwiftKey can detect the one you’re using and offer you predictions/corrections accordingly.

Even if you are using languages with different layouts or alphabets, you can switch between them at the mere swipe of a finger. Simply press on the spacebar and then slide left or right to change up your language/layout.

Tip: If you want easy access to all accented characters, just navigate to the ‘Layout & keys’ settings page in the app and check ‘Accented Characters’.

2 - Keyboard Layout/Size

Microsoft SwiftKey provides you with the option to resize, reposition and change the layout of your keyboard.

In its default setting, Microsoft SwiftKey presents itself as a traditional full-width keyboard. There are other layout options available to you though - and to get at them you simply need to open your Toolbar and tap the three dots ...

One-handed mode

This is a compact, reduced-width keyboard, designed for one handed typing.

Thumb/split keyboard mode

Tablet layout

If you’re using SwiftKey on a tablet or large screen device, you also have the additional ‘Extended Layout’ and a ‘Thumb Layout Numpad’ options which can be accessed from your 'Layout & keys' settings.

For those of you already signed up to a Microsoft SwiftKey Account, just open Toolbar, go to the ‘Themes’ pane, and tap ‘View more themes’. From here you can browse through our themes to your heart’s content, and when you see one you like, simply tap to download. Next time you open your keyboard, your brand new theme will be shining back at you in all its glory.

If you haven’t yet created a Microsoft SwiftKey Account, now is a good time to do so - especially if you’d like to try out our lovely themes.

If you’d like to read more about the Microsoft SwiftKey Account before signing up, you can do so here.

Changing Theme

Open Toolbar, go to the Themes pane and you’ll see our theme carousel. Here you can scroll through some of your downloaded themes, and tap an image to switch to a new one.

Your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard is all about prediction, and, most importantly, predicting the words that you are going to want to write next (next word prediction).

Microsoft SwiftKey has a 'prediction bar' along the top of the keyboard that offers you three options to choose from. To enter these words into your text field, you can either tap the word on the prediction bar or press the spacebar to insert the middle prediction.

1 - Adding words

Teaching your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard to speak the way you do is easy. If you have ever used the personalization options to get SwiftKey to learn from your sent SMS, emails, Facebook, etc. then your predictions should be pretty much up to speed already. However, Microsoft SwiftKey also learns from you as you type, and you can always teach Microsoft SwiftKey a new word.

If you have selected 'Autocorrect' and/or the 'Quick prediction insert' option within your 'Typing' settings, then Microsoft SwiftKey will automatically insert a prediction for you when you tap the spacebar. If you are trying to type a new word that Microsoft SwiftKey hasn't learned before (and therefore won't predict), all you need to is tap the left hand or middle prediction (depending on text field) which will contain your verbatim text.

If you have chosen not to select 'Autocorrect' or 'Auto insert prediction' then pressing spacebar will insert a space for you instead of inserting a prediction. In that case, to enter your verbatim text you simply need to type the word and press space.

2 - Correcting words

If you accidentally insert an incorrect word and realize right away, then there's a quick fix that saves a lot of time and hassle:

Tap backspace so that the cursor is at the end of the incorrect word.

Check the prediction bar - there is a good chance Microsoft SwiftKey will offer you your intended word in one of the predictions boxes (and if not, just tap backspace a few more times and watch the predictions change).

Simply tap the correct prediction and it will replace your incorrect word in the text field.

Even if you spot a typo earlier on in your text, it's very easy to correct in a similar way:

Tap the word in your text field to select.

Tap backspace until you see your desired word.

Tap the correct prediction and your typo will be replaced.

Is there a spell check in Microsoft SwiftKey?

Microsoft SwiftKey doesn't offer a dedicated spell check option within the app. However, your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard should offer you correctly spelled predictions based on the word you are typing. For example, if you start typing 'neces' you should be offered predictions such as 'necessary', 'necessarily', or 'necessity'. In this way, Microsoft SwiftKey does help to insert correctly spelled words.

3 - How do I get rid of a word I don't want?

If you have mistyped something or your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard has learned something you'd prefer to keep hidden, it's very simple to remove a word from being predicted on your prediction bar:

Long press (tap and hold) the word on the prediction bar.

Tap 'OK' from the pop up.

Does Microsoft SwiftKey have an undo function?

Your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard doesn't currently offer a dedicated 'undo' button. However, if you realize you have made a mistake, you can press backspace to see the previous selection of predictions. If your desired word is one of the predictions, just tap to replace the incorrect word.

You can also tap in the text field to place the cursor.

4 - Capitalization

In Microsoft SwiftKey, you can switch between caps and lower case characters simply by tapping the shift key. The shift key has three states which are easily identified by a change in design:

First letter caps - half filled color

Caps lock - filled color

All lower case - no fill

While the cursor is touching any word, you have the option to tap ‘shift’ to cycle through different caps cases, Title Case, ALL CAPS, and lowercase. This will help you fix the word without having to re-type it.

Additionally, you can choose to have your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard automatically capitalize the first letter after a period/exclamation mark/question mark by selecting 'Auto capitalize' in your 'Typing' settings.

Why are random words being capitalized?

From time-to-time (and for reasons unknown), this may happen. To remedy:

Long press the word in the prediction bar

Select ‘do not predict again'

Tap on the correct lowercase version

5 - Can I turn the prediction bar off?

Predictions are an integral part of the Microsoft SwiftKey experience, therefore the prediction bar cannot be turned off or hidden.

Flowing is not available in text fields where Microsoft SwiftKey does not offer predictions, for example password fields or the “to” field of an email, or in some apps with code that clash with predictions.

If you continue to have problems or your issue isn't listed, please submit a support ticket.

You can slide up on the keys to capitalize; like tapping the shift key

If more than one language is in use, you can slide on the spacebar to change layout (e.g. from QWERTY to Greek).

Gestures are activated by the speed of the gesture, rather than distance. If you are having problems with your gestures, please try sliding your finger a bit faster across your keyboard.

Please note that slide down to minimize, and slide up to capitalize gestures are not available for tablet or large screen devices, but using the back button on your device will still work to minimize the keyboard.

While Flow is enabled, all of these gestures are deactivated.

Holding down the delete key deletes word-by-word; the longer you hold it, the faster it deletes.

Microsoft SwiftKey does not have a dedicated minimize keyboard button. Instead, if you slide a finger down the keys from top to bottom, your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard is minimized. Alternatively, pressing your phone’s back key will minimize Microsoft SwiftKey.

Please note that if Flow is enabled, you can't slide down the keys to minimize the keyboard. When using Flow, please press the back button on your device to minimize the keyboard.

This gesture is not available for tablet or large screen devices, but using the back button on your device will still work to minimize the keyboard.

1 - High Contrast Theme

Microsoft SwiftKey provides a high contrast theme that meets WCAG 2.0 AAA colour contrast requirements. This is a free theme, and there is no need to download it. However, you will need to actively select it to set as your keyboard theme. To access this theme, please follow the below steps:

Open the SwiftKey app

Tap 'Themes'

Scroll down until you find the 'High Contrast' theme

Tap the theme to set as your keyboard theme

2 - Updated Languages

Languages in your Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard are now displayed in the format "<locale name> / <native name>" and sorted in alphabetical order so that TalkBack will always be able to read the locale name.

3 - Keyboard resizing options

Microsoft SwiftKey provides you with the option to change the size of your keyboard. To resize your keyboard, please do the following:

4 - Explore By Touch

When Explore By Touch is enabled you're able to take advantage of the following functionality:

To type simply slide your finger on the keyboard until you find your desired key and lift your finger off the screen to insert the text/press the button.

To enter secondary characters, slide and wait on a key until TalkBack announces 'Alternative characters available’. Then slide over the additional character popup and release your finger to insert. To cancel the additional character selection, release and then slide your finger elsewhere on keyboard.

If you'd previously enabled more than one language that uses different language layouts in Microsoft SwiftKey, then enabling Explore By Touch will change the way you switch between them from the keyboard. Instead of swiping left or right on the spacebar to change language layout, you will need to long press the spacebar to cycle through the different layouts.

Flow and gestures such as slide left to delete, or slide down to minimise the keyboard are now disabled.

It will not be possible to use the keyboard 'undocked'. If you are currently using Microsoft SwiftKey undocked, then enabling Explore by Touch will cause your keyboard to be docked.

5 - TalkBack

What is TalkBack?

TalkBack is the screen reader by Google that works by giving spoken feedback without looking at the screen.

How to turn it on

If not already enabled you can turn TalkBack on by navigating to your device Settings > Accessibility.

How to use TalkBack

Microsoft SwiftKey has been configured to work with TalkBack features within the keyboard and keyboard settings area within the app.

The below list runs through a number of basic typing examples:

How to enable caps lock

Navigate to the lower left corner to tap the shift key. Once enabled, you will hear "Caps lock enabled.

How to access numbers and symbols

Navigate to the lower left corner to tap the 123 button below the shift key. Once enabled, you will hear "Symbols and Numbers, showing Microsoft SwiftKey symbols and number keyboard."

How to access the SwiftKey Keyboard menu

Right below the text entry field to the left edge of the keyboard you can expand the Toolbar.

Tap to expose the Toolbar.

How to enter emoji

In the lower right corner tap the emoji keyboard. Once selected you will hear "emoji, showing SwiftKey emoji keyboard."

To return to the standard layout, tap the abc button in the lower left hand corner. Once you'll hear "showing SwiftKey letters keyboard."

6 - Android Magnification

Microsoft SwiftKey is not currently compatible with Android's magnification feature. As a result, tapping the screen 3 times in quick succession will cause the display to zoom in and surround the area in a blue border.

Magnification should be switched off by default, but if you find it's been enabled please follow the steps below to disable it: